Container feed valve



March 24, 1925. 1,530,516

A. K. RARIG CONTAINER FEED vALyE Filed April 19. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1March 24. 1925. 1,530,516

A. K. RARIG CONTAINER FEED v'ALvE Filed April 19. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2l graue n to; 'Q/'rfferz'y,

wf Mw@ ffnung Patented Mar.` 24,V 1925.

AALEXANDER x. mais, or' sAN raANcIsco, cuiromrn.

CONTAINER FEED VALVE.

. Application Med Api-i1 19 1924. Serial No. 707,758.

To all 'l1-:hom haag concern:

B e it known thatl I, ALEXANDER' f RARIG, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at San Francisco, in the county of` San Fran-4 ciscoand State of California, have invented new-.and useful Im rovements inContainer Feed Valves, of w ich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to can feed valves'- for canning machines, andparticularly to feed valves of that type. designed f or introducing cansor other containers into and discharging them from a processing chamber,such as a steam pressure cooking chamber 5 or vacuumizing chamber, inwhich the inlet and outlet of the" chamber shouldbe kept sealed againstthe loss of steam or ingress of air during the passage of the canstherethrough. A

. One object of my invention is to provide a feed valve, i. e., acombined feeder and valve, that can be operated at a high rate of speedwithout jamming the cans or otherwise -injuring them or marring theirsurfaces.

Another object of the invention is to pro.-

vide an oscillatory valve of 180 movement type which on each halfoscillation will effect the delivery of a can or container.

e Still another object of the linvention is to provide operating meansof simple, reliable and efiicientvcliaracter for actuating the valve andcan ejecting means associated therewith at properly timed periods.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts,hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in whichz' Figure 1 is a top .plan view of a canfeed valve embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a' view, partly in sideelevation and partly in longitudinal section of the same.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

-v Figure 6 is a view of the ejector actuating cam and parts operatedthereby.

Figure horizontal section -on' line is a detail section through theupper head of the valve casing, showing the upper drum bearing.

igure 8 is a similar viewv through the lower head of the valve casing,showing the lower drum bearing.

Figure 9 is. -a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Figure 8. 1

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view Killustrating the operation of the drumactuating means on one-half oscillation ofthe drum. Figure 11 is acompanion view to Figure 10 illustrating the action 'of the throw cranksof the ejector actuating means on the same half oscillation ofthe drum.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view -illustrating the action of the throwcranks `and gear segment in the motionv of the working parts shown invFigure 11.

Figures 13, 14 and 15 are viewsv similar to Figures 10, 11 and 12,illustrating the actions of the drum actuating means, throw crankactuating means, throw cranks and gear segment on the remaining halfrevolution of the drum.

In the practical embodiment of my invention as herein disclosed,I'provide a feed valve comprising a circular casing 1 having an integralto head 2 and a detachable botl tomhead 3, t e latter being secured inposition by any suitable type of fastening means. its diametricallyopposed side walls with4 openings 4- and 5 of a size for the passage ofa can or container of any intended diameter or diameters. Either one ofthese openings may be employed as an inlet and the other as an outlet,accordingly asthe valve is intended for use as an injector valve ordischarge valve. In the presentinstance the valve is shown asconstructed for use as an injector valve, being provided for suchpurpose with a -neck forming'a passage communicating with the openin 45,and which neck is designed in practice to be hermetically secured to thewall of a chamber 7 fra mentarily shown, having an inlet opening t roughwhich the` cans are introduced into such chamber. Thisl chamber may be asteam heated cooking chamber or a vacuumizing chamber, and the neck 6may receive one end of a conve or or other intermediate transfer. deviceor conveying the cans from the outlet of the injector valve to a cookingdrum or seami'ng machine with- Tliis casing is' formed in two ofv inthechamber. yBy simpllly reversing the working position of the v ve dissing the neck 6 for communication with the inlet 4, the device may beemployed as an ejector valve for discharging the cans or containers fromthe outlet of the chamber, without in any manner varying theconstruction or operation of the working parts of the valve device. Itis therefore to be understood that the subject-matter of the appendedclaims covers a valve device designed for either injecting or ejectingpurposes and for use with steam cooking, vacuumizing or other likechambers which are to be .suppliedwith articles to be treated andinwhich the inlet or exit passages of the chamber or both, are to be keptsealed inst the ingress or egress of air, steam or ot er fiuids whilethe cans are being fedthereinto and therefrom.

-Disposed Awithin the casing 1 is an 0m11- I latory drum 8, having anoscillatory motion in an are of 180 and provided at diametricallyopposite sides thereof with peripheral can receiving seats, pockets orlrecesses 9 and 10, each having a bottom can supporting wall and whichare alternately movable by .the oscillations of the drum into and out ofregister with the openimlr 4 and 5. Tlie'drum is provided at to andbottom with stub shafts 11`and 12 Journaled. in anti-friction bearings13 and 14, which are'loosel -iitted for adjustment in openings 15 an .16in the heads 2 and 3 of the casing 1. Set in the walls of the casing 1ad'acent to the outlet is a wear liner 17 of abbitt metal or othersuitable comparativel soft metal, against which the adjacent si ve ofthe drum 8 bears. In the use of the valve in connection with avacuuniizing chamber, the suction pull due to the vacuum in that chamberdraws the drum tightly against the liner 17 so as to seal the opening 5against the ingress of air, whereby a high degree of vacuum in thevacuumizing chamber may be.

obtained. Set screws 18 mounted upon the heads 2 and 3 areprovided forengagement with the bearings 13 and 14 for adjusting the same intheopenings and 16 to regulate the ressure of the drum under the suctionpul against the wear liner 17, whereby any undue binding action may beprevented and a tight sealing action. at the same time maintained. v

Fixed to the stub shaft 11 isa gear 19 with which meshes a gear segment20 suitably mounted upon the top of the casing 1 and which isalternately movable in opposite directions to communicate oscillatorymotion through the ar 19 to the drum 20, whereby the drum wil first beturned in one direction from, for example, the positiony shown in4Figure 3, to reverse theposition of the pockets 9 and 10 and cause themto respectively register with the outlet 5 and inlet 4, i

, however, or

- outlet 5i for the disc ar shown as disposed to receive a can orcontainer introduced throu h the inlet 4 and adapted throu h a halfoscillation of thev drum 8 to be rou ht to register with the of the canor container through said out et, in which operation the pocket 9, whichas shown in Figure 3 registers with the outlet 3, is moved into registrywith the inlet 4 to receive acan, the res ive pockets on the subsequ tor remaining half oscillationof the drum ournaled upon one side ofthecasing 1 is a drive shaft 21 designed in practice to ieceive continuousrotar motion in one direcf tion from any suita le source of ower. Fixedto the upper end of this sha t is a crank arm 22 carryin a. wristpin 23to Which'is pivotally coup ed one end of a connectingl rod 24. Theopposite end of this rod is provided with a slotted portion 25 slidablyand pivotally engaging a wrist pin or stub 26 fixed u n the gear segment20. On one half revolution of the shaft 21 the connecti'n lrod 24 ismoved in one direction ent 20 1n one directo shift t e ear se tion, andon t e remaining half revolution of the shaft 21 the connecting rod 24is moved l revolution of the sha-ft in the shifting of the rod from theend of one working action across its dead center position to thebeginning of its next working action, the drinn 8 remains at rest lforan'interval suiicient for the reception of a can into its pocketwliichis in receiving position and the ejection of a can from its pocketwhich is in discharge position.

A reciprocating double ejector 27 is provided for alternately ejectmgthe cans .or containers from the pockets 9 and 10. This ejectorcomprises a bar having opposite end can engaging surfaces 28, said arbeing slidably mounted in a guideway extending across the drum betweenthe inner ends of in shifted back again to the positionishown ig" iisthe pockets 9 and 10 for reverse shiftin and the dotted line Thesegment` 30. fits Within a recess in the bottom 'of the drum and `isheldin position by a detachable head 32, secured lto the drum body byany suitable type of fastening means, and which head carries the lowerstub shaft 12. Thev shaft 31 extends downward through this head- 32 into*the space between it and the casing head 3 and has fixed to its lowerend an actuating lever 33 provided with oppositely extending arms 34 and35. l

The arms 34 and 35 are adapted for cooperation respectively withengaging pins 36 and 37 upon crank throw arms 38 and 39 fixed to shafts40 and 41 journaled in and extending downwardly through the head 3 ofthecasing, the throw arms 38 and 39 being disposed in the space between theheads 3 and 32 for rocking movements between inactive and activepositions to respectively engage the'lever arms 34 and 35 and therebytransmitting reverse swinging movements to the segment 30. The arms 38and 39 normally lie when inactive radially to the axis of the drum 8, asindicated by the full line position of the arm 39 in -Figure 3, and saidarms are movable outwardly on their working motions to the full lineposition of the arm 38 and dotted line position of the arml 39 shown inFigure 3, .which also shows yin full and dotted lines `the workingmovements of the lever 33 in' the working movements of said arms 38 and39.

The mechanism for operating the throw side of the head 3, and coupled at`the opposite side of its base by a llnk 49 to a connecting rod -50connected at its ends by cranks 51 and 52 respectively to the lower endsof the shafts 40 and 41 of the throw arms 38 and 39. The rocker arm 47is alternately movable in opposite directions by the cam portions 43 and44 to alternately shift the throw arms 38 and 39 back and forth on theirworking and return motions, the successive actuations of the throw arms38 andI 39 occurring during the time periods when the drum 8 is at restbetween periods of half oscillation, the roller 46 travelling idly inthe cam groove portion 45 after each movement of the throw arms. 38 and39 and during the period when the drum 8 is making a half oscillation.Provision is thus made for the shifting of the ejector 27 in a ositionof the arm 38'ai1d` proper direction to discharge a can frornthe rumpocket which. is in discharge posltlon, at the time when the drum is atrest and the other pocket is in receiving ositon.-

The workin operation o thc parts will be readily un erstood by reference'to the diagrams, Figures 10 to 15, inclusive. Figure 10 shows the drumand drum operating means substantially as shown in Figure 1 with theexception that the crank 24 and rod 22 appear in full lines in one voftheir dead center ositions between intervals of operation an in dottedlines the arrangement of the parts when about to reverse the v movementof -the.-drum. Figure 10 also shows the ejector in the reverse positionto that shown in Figure 3 and with a can A positioned to enter thepocket'9 and a can -about to be lejected from pocket 10. Fi ures 11 and12 show the corresponding f il and dotted line positions of the-ejectoroperating means. In thetravel of the crank 24 and r0d"22 fromf the fullline tothe dotted line positions in Figure 1()A the stud 26 makesitsidle travel from the inner to the outer end of the slot, during whichthe drum S'remains stationary and the parts 24-26 are brouvht to theposition shown in Figure 1. 1in-ing this idle period of the drum theroller 46 passes from the in active groove portion 45 of the cam to theWorking groove portion 43 thereof, thereby shifting the throw crankactuating mechanism, as -shown in Figures 11 and 12, from the full lineposition to the dotted line position, whereby the throw crank 38 isretracted and the throw crank 39 projected, the latter acting on thelever arm 35 to move the lever 33-to shift the gear segment 3,0 so as toshift the ejector 27 to the dotted line position in Figure 12, therebyforcing the can B from pocket 10- and lea-vino pocket 9 free for'thefeed of the can A tlereinto, which can is enteredbefore the drum beginsits reverse motion. The -drum shifting mechanism now begins its drumreversing action, the crank 22 and rod 24 operating to shift segment 20from the positionshown in Figure 1 to the reverse posit-ion shown inFigure 13, as a result of which the drum 8 will be turned to theposition shown in Figures 13 and 15, so as to bring the previouslyemptied pocket 10 into receiving position and the loaded pocket 9 intodischarge to retract the throw crank 39 and vproject .0 fluids. Also itwill be secn that a valve of 3 gage drum, operating devices are set f ora re tition of the firsthalf\oscillation of the rump'reviously'described. While the drum is idle in the motion of the parts24-26 just described, durin the drum turning action of which the ro ler46 is travelling in the cam grooveportion 45, such roller 46 is enby theworkin portion 44 of the cam oove, as shown'in igure 14, therebyshifting the thrcwcrank actuating means so as the'irst-half oscillationof the drum as here-l inbefore described.

From the foregoin description, taken in connection with the rawings, theconstruct'ion'and operation of my improved feed valve will be readilyunderstood and it will be seen that a valve of this character isprovided which will feed a can in an ,expeditious manner and withoutinjury thereto, while at the same time 4securely sealing theoutletofftlie valve against the passage of simple construction isprovided, embodging a comparatively small number of wor ing parts ofa-k'ind which will not easily get out of order, andwhich valve is ofsuch a structure as to permit of easy and convenient assemblage,disassemblage and. re-

pairs or replacements of its parts.

It is to be understood that wherever the wor'd can or container is usedin the specification and appended claims, such terms are designed to-refer to cans proper, jars, cartons, or other receptacles commonly usedin the packaging of coffee, milk.' fruits, vegetables, meats, sea-foods`and all other foodstuifs, goods'or commodities packed in receptaclesforV preservation. By the use of 4the term feed, I mean a valve designedfor either feeding containers into a chamber or feeding them therefrom,the valve embodyin my invention being equally well adapted or use as anAintroducing va ve -or discharge valve.

Having thus fully described my invention,

1. A feeder valve comprising, in combination, a casing havingdiametrically disposed,l

inlet and outlet openings, an oscillato valve in said casing provided atdiametrically opposite sides with peripheral holding pockets, and meansfor oscillating said valve for'alternately bringing the respectivepockets into registry with the inlet and outlet openings, said valvehaving a sealing engagement with the walls of the easing in the regionof at least one of said openings.

2. A feeder valve comprising, in combinaplacing containers therefrom,and means for oscillating the valve and actuating said ejecv tor.

, 3. A feeder valve comprising, in combination, a casing havingdiametrically-disposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillatory -valvein said casing mounted to revolve upon 'a vertical axis and providedwith diametrically disposed peripheral container receiv- -ing pockets,each having a can supporting4v bottom wall, means for alternately movingthe valve in o posite directions with intermediate perio of rest,ejecting *means for dischar ng containers from the pockets, and means oroperating the ejectingmeans during the periods of rest of the valve.

4. A eed valve comprising, in combination, a casing having diametricallydisposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillatory valve in Vsaid casingrovided with diametricall disposed poc ets for cooperation lwith saiopenings, an ejector common to both pocketsand lmovable in oppositedirections for alternately displacing containers from said pockets,means for imparting successive ha f oscillations to the valve withintervals of rest between them, and means for actuating the ejectorduring the intervals of rest of the valve.

5. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a casing having inlet anddischarge openin arranged atan angle of 180 to each ot er, a valve insaid casing mounted tooscillate upon a' vertical axis and havingperipheral pockets each rovided with a can supporting bottom wa l, saidvalve being oscillatable through an arc of 180 to alternately bring thepocket into registry with the inlet and outlet openings, mea-ns forimparting successive. half oscillations to said the ejector in oppositedirections between' intervals of operation of the valve.

7. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a easing havingdiametrically disposed inlet` and outlet openings, an oscillatory lill!valve in said casing having diametrically disposed container receivingpockets for cooperation with said openings, gearing comprising a gearand gear segment for actuating the valve, and crank operated means foractuating said gearing having a lost motion connection therewith formoving idly between intervals of operation of the gearing.

8. A feed valve comprising, incombination, a casing having diametricallydisposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillatory valve in said casingprovided with diametrically disposed container holding pockets forcooperation with said openings, a gear connected with said valve, a gearsegment meshing with said gear and provided with a crank pin, a drivenshaft, a crank arm connected with said shaft, and a connecting rodcoupled to the crank arm and having a slotted end engaging the wrist pinofthe gear segment.

9. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a casing havingdiametrically disposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillatory valvetherein provided with diametrically disposed container holding-pocketsfor cooperation with said openings, means for irnparting periodic halfoscillations to the valve, an ejector movable between and longitudinallyof the pockets for alternatel Y displacing containers therefrom, anoscillhtory element for oscillating said ejector, and means foroperating the oscillatory element between periods of ope-ration of thevalve.

10. A feed valve comprisin in combination, a casing having diametricallydisposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillator valve in said casingprovided with diametrlcally disposed container holding pockets forcooperation with said openings, means for imparting periodic halfoscillations to the valve, ejecting means common to the pockets fordischarging containers therefrom, and means for periodically operatingsaid ejecting means for alternately discharging containers from thepockets at proper time periods.

11. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a casing havingdiametrically disposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillatorly valveprovided with diametrically disposed pockets for cooperation with saidopenings, means for imparting periodic half oscillations to the valve,an ejector for alternately discharging containers from the pockets,gearing for reciprocating said ejector, and cam operated mechanism foractuating said gearing.

l2. A feed valve comprising, in combina,- tion, a casing having inletand outlet openings, an oscillatory valve in said casing having asealing engagement with the walls of thecasing in the region of one ofsaid openings and provided with container holding means and operative toshift containers between the inlet and outlet, means for oscillatingsaid valve, and means operative therewith for shifting containerstherefrom through the o'utlet.

13. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a casing having an inletand an outlet, and an oscillatory feed valve in said casing oscillatableon a vertical axis and provided with peripheral can receiving seats, andmeans for operating said valve for shifting 'containers between theinlet and outlet.

14. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a casing having an inletand an outlet, an oscillatory feed valve provided with peripheral canreceiving seats and oscillatable on a vertical axis in said casing forshifting the .containers between the inlet and outlet, an ejector fordischarging containers from said seats through the outlet, and means foroperating the valve and ejector at proper time periods.

In testimon whereof I alix my signature.

LEXANDER K. RARIG.

